6

6. Design Standards and Guidelines for Historic

section
Residential Districts
6.1. Historic Residential Buildings Styles
6.1.1. National Folk: Pyramid
6.1.2. National Folk: Front Gable
6.1.3. National Folk: Massed Plan, Side Gable
6.1.4. National Folk: Gable Front and Wing
6.1.5. National Folk: I-House
6.1.6. Greek Revival
6.1.7. Queen Anne
6.1.8. Folk Victorian
6.1.9. Colonial Revival
6.1.10. Mission or Pueblo Revival
6.1.11. Craftsman
6.1.12. Ranch
6.1.13. Mill Country Vernacular Rock

6.1.1. National Folk: Pyramid

6.1.1.1. The Pyramidal National Folk is
a massed plan of a rectangular
shape, and are commonly built
with equilateral hip roofs. Such
roofs appeared in the early
post-railroad era on modest
houses.
6.1.1.2. Characteristics
a. Equilateral roof
b. Square shaped plans
c. Full width porch
d. Large flexible interior plan

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section 6.1.2. National Folk: Front Gable
6.1.2.1. The Front Gable National
Folk first became common in
expanding Southern cities in
the late 19th century. These
are usually one-story, double-
width forms with low-pitched
roofs.
6.1.2.2. Characteristics
a. Front facing gable
b. Low pitched roof
c. Double width form

6.1.3. National Folk: Massed Plan, Side Gable

6.1.3.1. The side-gabled folk houses
with massed plans are usually
one-story forms that vary
principally in roof pitch, size,
and placement of porches. In
the South the houses usually
have full length shed roof
porches and relatively large
flexible plans.
6.1.3.2. Characteristics
a. Side gabled roof
b. Full length shed roof porch
c. Massed Plan
d. One-story in height

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6.1.4. National Folk: Front Gable and Side

section
Wing
6.1.4.1. The front gable and side wing
houses of the South were
traditionally one-story, hall
and parlor plans that were
expanded to add a gabled front
wing. These houses had more
flexible interior spaces than the
typical hall and parlor.
6.1.4.2. Characteristics
a. Side gabled roof, with front
facing gabled wing
b. Shed roof porch
c. One-story in height
d. Flexible interior spaces

6.1.5. National Folk: I-House

6.1.5.1. The Folk National I-House is
typically two rooms wide and
one room deep. Many of the
later I-House plans had varying
patterns of porches, chimneys,
and rear extensions.
6.1.5.2. Characteristics
a. Two rooms wide
b. Shed roof porch
c. Two-story in height

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section

6.1.6. Greek Revival

6.1.6.1. One of the most familiar
stereotypes in American
architecture is the full-
colonnaded Greek Revival
mansion of the southern
states. The southern Greek
Revival residences partially
sprung from French colonial
building practices.
6.1.6.2. Characteristics
a. Porch supported by round,
Corinthian columns
b. Full-facade entry porch
c. Side gabled roofline of low
pitch

6.1.7. Queen Anne

6.1.7.1. Queen Anne was the dominant
style of domestic architecture
from 1880 to 1900. The style
is based on characteristics
from the late Medieval styles
such as Elizabethan and
Jacobean architecture.
6.1.7.2. Characteristics
a. Asymmetrical facade
b. One story porch that
extends along one or both
side walls
c. Steeply pitched, irregular
shaped roof
d. Decorative wood detailing

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6.1.8. Folk Victorian

section
6.1.8.1. The folk Victorian style was
implemented using existing
Folk residences and adding
Victorian detailing. Railroads
spread the materials and
machinery needed for this
style.
6.1.8.2. Characteristics
a. Gabled roof
b. Porch roof supports are
either spindles or square
posts
c. Simple folk form
d. Spindle work detailing

6.1.9. Colonial Revival ?

6.1.9.1. Colonial Revival predominated
before 1910. The Georgian
and Adam styles from the
backbone of the Revival and
details usually combine a
mixture of the two.
6.1.9.2. Characteristics
a. Porch supported by round,
Corinthian columns
b. Full-facade entry porch
c. Side gabled roofline of low
pitch

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section 6.1.10. Mission or Pueblo Revival
6.1.10.1. Pueblo Revival houses draw
from historical precedents; they
are a mixture of influences
from both flat roofed Spanish
Colonial buildings and Native
American pueblos.
6.1.10.2. Characteristics
a. Flat roof with parapet wall
b. Stucco wall surface, usually
earth-colored
c. Rounded edges of the walls

6.1.11. Craftsman
6.1.11.1. The Craftsman style was
inspired by the English Arts
and Crafts movement, oriental
wooden architecture, and the
manual arts. The style began
in southern California and
spread through pattern books.
6.1.11.2. Characteristics
a. Low – pitched gable roofs
b. Porch roof supports are
square or tapered columns
c. Roof rafters and decorative
beams are exposed
d. Wide, open eave overhang

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6.1.12. Ranch

section
6.1.12.1. The Ranch style is a
uniquely American domestic
architectural style. It began
in the 1930s and is loosely
based on Spanish Colonial,
Craftsman, and Prairie
precedents.
6.1.12.2. Characteristics
a. Single – story with
asymmetrical facade
b. Porch roof supports in
decorative iron
c. Brick or wood cladding
d. Low – pitched roof with
long, low roofline
e. Large picture windows with
decorative shutters

6.1.13. Hill Country Vernacular Rock

6.1.13.1. The stone rubble that is
indicative to the Texas Hill
Country is very commonly
used within Blanco. This
stone is pieced together and
held with mortar to create load
bearing walls that in turn form
modest dwellings. These
vernacular rock houses are
very common throughout the
Texas Hill Country and should
be preserved.
6.1.13.2. Characteristics
a. One-story house
b. Typically metal roofing
c. Patios framed by rock
arcades

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section 6.2. Components of Historic Residential Buildings
6.2.1. Foundations and Skirting
6.2.2. Porches
6.2.3. Exterior Wall Surfaces
6.2.4. Exterior Doors and Entrances
6.2.5. Windows
6.2.6. Roof Forms and Details

6.2.1. Foundations and Skirting

6.2.1.1. Observations
a. Houses in the historic
residential areas of Blanco
are frame on pier-and-beam
construction with foundation
consisting of wood post,
brick, or stone piers set into
the ground. This type of
construction elevates the
house above the ground.
The wood posts fail over
time, causing the house
to shift, and eventually
the posts will need to be
replaced.
b. There are a number of
frame structures with brick,
stone, or concrete perimeter
beams. Some houses of
concrete-block and masonry
construction also exist.
These masonry structures
have interior supports
similar to pier-and-beam
construction.
c. The skirting closes the
space under the house,
but has openings for
ventilation. The skirting
material and detail are
defined by the style and
period of the house. For
example, Craftsman houses
frequently have a flared
skirt of horizontal board
siding, stone, or brick with
ventilation screens. Brick
and stone houses, along
with a few wood frame
houses, typically have
brick or stone skirting.
Sometimes concrete block
that resembles stone is
used as skirting.
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6.2.1.2. Recommendations

section
a. Repair deteriorated
foundations before
attempting other repairs,
such as roof leaks. The
movement of the foundation
may cause other materials
to shift or cause leaks.
b. The foundation posts may
be replaced with new post
of cedar or chemically
treated wood; concrete
piers may be installed.
Floors can be leveled and
additional support may be
installed if needed.
c. Both stone and brick
foundations may have
deteriorated or missing
mortar, which requires
repointing or replacing
mortar. -See material
section

6.2.2. Porches
6.2.2.1. Observations
a. The front porch is one of
the most prominent features
of individual residences
and is found on most of the
houses. The front porch is
an extension of the living
space and contributes to the
character of the street and
the neighborhood. While
most porches are elevated
above ground, or ground
level, some of the newer
houses have porches that
are near grade.
b. Throughout Blanco,
many porches retain their
character defining features
of columns, railings, steps,
and other details.
c. Some porches have been
altered and their original
columns have been
removed and replaced with
fabricated metal or other
inappropriate materials and
design.
d. Other alterations include
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section lowering the porch level,
installing concrete or brick
porch flooring at grade,
and enclosing all or part of
the porch to accommodate
additional living space.
e. Porches may require a
great deal of maintenance
because of their exposure
to the weather; repair is
inevitable and necessary.
6.2.2.2. Recommendations
a. Retain original materials
and make repairs that
match the original design
of the porch floor, columns,
railings, brackets, steps,
and other character defining
details.
b. Wood porch floors and
columns may require an
eventual replacement due
to moisture penetration;
wood floors and columns
should only be replaced
with wood.
c. At no time shall the porch
elevation be lowered
to grade and steps
redesigned. Porches
should never be enclosed
to provide more living space
as this can dramatically
alter the appearance of the
house.
d. As renovation occurs,
consider restoring a
previously altered porch and
its features. If porches have
been drastically altered, or
if there is no clear idea of
what was originally in place,
they can be designed to be
sympathetic to the original
style of the house. Do
not construct a porch of a
different house style.
e. If an access ramp needs
to be provided it should
be located to minimize the
loss of historic features and
should overall preserve the
historic character of the
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property.

section
f. Ramps can be constructed
out of various materials
to be compatible with
housing styles. Ramps
should not be constructed
out of unpainted pressure
treated wood as this looks
temporary and not visually
compatible with historic
properties.

6.2.3. Exterior Wall Surfaces

6.2.3.1. Observations
a. The most prominent exterior
wall material is horizontal
wood siding the profile of
which varies from building
to building. The Blanco
residential housing also has
a few examples of board-
and-batten siding. This
is a vertical wood siding
with narrow wood strips, or
battens, covering the seams
of the siding. The historic
wood siding has been on
some of the houses for
100 years and can last
decades to come if properly
maintained and painted.
Brick, stone, and stucco are
also present.
b. Although the majority of
the houses retain their
original siding, a few of the
house have been covered
with non-historic siding
such as asbestos, vinyl or
aluminum, and occasionally
stucco.
6.2.3.2. Recommendations
a. Each exterior wall surface
material requires different
maintenance which can be
referenced in the building
materials section of this
document.
b. It is important to retain
the original siding and its
dimension, profile, and
shadow lines.
c. If the building was
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section constructed of wood siding
and needs repairs or board
replacement, most siding
types are still manufactured
and available from suppliers
or can be milled for a
nominal fee.
d. For the integrity of the
neighborhood and house
itself, it is not recommended
that any synthetic siding
be installed over existing
wood siding. This not only
changes the appearance
of the house but may also
cause deterioration of the
historic material it covers.
Additionally, synthetic
siding often conceals many
of the original details of a
residence.
e. While houses with existing
synthetic siding installed
are not required to remove
the siding and restore
the exterior, removal
of synthetic siding and
repairing of original siding
and trim are encouraged.

6.2.4. Exterior Doors and Entrances

6.2.4.1. Observations
a. The historic residential
housing in Blanco has
a wide range of entry
treatments corresponding
to the variety of housing
styles.. Even the simplest
houses have a well-defined
entry that faces the street.
b. Some of the houses
have multiple entrances
and some houses have
transoms, or windows
above the door. Some of
the entrances are flanked
by side lights, or windows.
c. Historic front doors usually
have glass upper panels.
Another important feature
is the wooden screen
door, often with decorative
inserts, which is present on
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some of the house.

section
d. Transoms are sometimes
concealed when alternative
siding or doors are installed.
Some historic screen doors
have been replaced with
aluminum or vinyl screen
doors.
6.2.4.2. Recommendations
a. It is important to maintain
the multiple components of
the entry doors, including
glass panel doors,
transoms, sidelights and
screen doors.
b. Historic doors should be
repaired where damaged.
Ensure proper operation
and install secure hardware
and weather stripping for
energy efficiency.
c. Reduce airflow at the
bottom of the door by
installing a door sweep
to fit snugly against the
threshold.
d. Where beyond repair or
already removed, historic
doors can be replaced with
a door of similar design
or replicated by a skilled
worker.
e. Installing a new door that
does not match the original
is not recommended as it
would negatively impact
the character of the house.
Screen doors should be
retained and repaired
when necessary. Any
replacement screen door
should match the historic or
framed to mirror the panels
and sash divisions of the
door that it covers.
f. If storm and screen doors
are installed where none
existed originally, select a
“full vision panel” design to
allow the original door to be
seen.
g. Repair damaged transoms
and sidelights. Avoid
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section altering transoms and
sidelight as it distorts the
strong vertical proportions
of the windows and doors
and changes the character
of the residence.
h. Retain original lighting
fixtures, and repair and re-
wire as necessary. Any
new entry lighting fixtures
should be compatible
with the character of the
building. An artificially
“aged” fixture that mimics a
carriage lamp or gaslight is
not recommended.

6.2.5. Windows
6.2.5.1. Observations
a. Windows play an important
role in the character of the
houses and the overall
neighborhood.
b. The proportion, material,
and organization of windows
in a wall help to establish
a construction date of the
house. The detail of the
window is frequently a key
characteristic in identifying
an architectural style.
c. The majority of the windows
in historic residential
housing are wood, double-
hung, and rope-and-pulley
systems. Many of the
windows have multiple
panes of glass in a single
window sash. Steel
casement windows were
common for houses of the
1940s.
6.2.5.2. Recommendations
a. All historic windows should
be retained and maintained.
Ensuring proper window
fit, weather stripping the
sash, installing new glazing
compound, and sealing
around the window frames
at the siding all substantially
improve the energy
efficiency of wood windows.
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b. It is not necessary to

section
replace an entire window if
only a portion is damaged.
Historic windows were
designed so that a failed
element could be repaired
or replaced, and would not
require the whole window
to be replaced. Repair
or replace damaged
components as necessary.
c. Replace historic glass only
when broken as the wavy
quality adds to the character
of the historic house.
d. If windows are missing or
if frames are deteriorated
beyond repair, their
replacement must have
the same basic dimension
and profile as the original.
“Snap-in” muntons or
imitation dividers are
inappropriate within the
historic residential housing
and should not be installed.
e. Aluminum and vinyl
windows are not appropriate
replacements for a wood
window and are not more
energy efficient than a well-
maintained wood window.
f. Mill finished aluminum
should be avoided even
in the installation of
window screens and storm
windows. Avoid the use
of bright aluminum screen
fabric.
g. Factory painted or powder
coated storm or screen
windows with a meeting rail
that matches the window
are acceptable.

6.2.6. Roof Forms and Details

6.2.6.1. Observations
a. Roof forms and materials
play an important role in
defining the character of
a house. The majority of
the roofs are combination
of hip, gable, and dormers,
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section although a few simple gable
and hip roofs exist.
b. The size of the roof
overhang (eave) varies
from house-to-house but
relates to the house’s style.
For example, Craftsman
style houses have wide
open eave overhangs, with
exposed roof rafters and
decorative beams; these
features should be retained
or repaired if needed.
c. Dormers are common and
are found in a variety of
shapes and sizes, some
have windows while others
have vents. Dormers
and other historic roof
details such as weather
vanes add to the character
of the house and the
neighborhood.
d. It is not uncommon for one
house to have multiple
roofing materials. A house
may have a standing
seam roof one portion and
composition shingle on
another.
e. There are a variety of
historic roofing materials
that are still preset with
in the historic residential
housing, including standing
seam metal. However
composition shingle is
the most common and
economical roofing material.
6.2.6.2. Recommendations
a. Retain original roof
materials and replace with
material to match original if
at all possible.
b. Maintenance of the roofing
material and flashing is
important. In the event
replacement is necessary,
select a roofing material that
is compatible to the design
and style of the house.
c. Retain the original roof form
and details. If attic space
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is converted into living

section
space dormers are added,
retain the original roof
pitch to avoid a “pop-up”
appearance, especially on
the front facade.
d. Retain the original roof form
and details. If attic space
is converted into living
space dormers are added,
retain the original roof
pitch to avoid a “pop-up”
appearance, especially on
the front facade.
e. Composition shingles
should not be installed
on a low-slope pitch roof
because they will leak.
f. Avoid adding details that did
not exist originally.

6.3. Characteristics of Historic Residential

Neighborhoods
6.3.1. Neighborhood Characteristics and
Distinctions
6.3.2. Site Development and Characteristics
6.3.3. Rhythm and Visual Continuity
6.3.4. Building Heights and Orientation
6.3.5. Color
6.3.6. Modern Conveniences, Amenities, and
Public Safety

6.3.1. Neighborhood Characteristics and

Distinctions
6.3.1.1. Observations
a. The historic residential
buildings within Blanco have
many shared characteristics
while each building retains
its own distinctive identity.
The common neighborhood
characteristics must be
maintained.
b. The setbacks of the
houses throughout
the neighborhood are
consistent for the most part,
but they can vary depending
on the area of development.
c. As changes are proposed
to a site or home, review
the lines of continuity and
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section rhythm established in the
specific neighborhood.
Look at the scale, form,
and proportion of proposed
changes and ensure that
the proposed project will
retain these characteristics.
6.3.1.2. Definitions of Historic
Neighborhood Characteristics
a. Building Form is primarily
dictated by the style of the
building. For example,
Queen Anne and Victorian
style are recognizable by
their composition of multiple
shapes which include bays,
dramatic roof lines, dormers
and porches while the
Craftsman style is derived
from a simplified rectangular
plan. The Neoclassical
building also derived its
form from a rectangular plan
but has a dominant central
entry porch with columns
which extend the full height
of the building.
b. Scale of a building
is measured as the
relationship of building size
to something else, such
as a human. Windows,
entrances, porches,
bays and the dimensions
of building materials
contributes to the overall
scale of the building.
c. Rhythm of a street is
created by the spacing
between houses, the
location and spacing of
sidewalks from the curb
as well as walkways to the
entrances of the houses,
and the location and
spacing of the driveway
entrances to each property.
d. Proportion is the
relationship of the
dimensions of an object
to itself, such as height
to width. Proportion is
inherent in all aspects of a
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building form, components,

section
and material. As an
example, older homes with
high ceilings have windows
that are taller than they are
wide. Houses built after
1960s usually have lower
ceiling heights so their
windows are shorter and
wider.
e. Relationship of Materials
and Texture of each home
is representative of the style
and period of construction.
The inherent properties and
dimensions of construction
materials like brick and
wood boards help in
understanding the home’s
size, scale, and proportion.
Because stucco has no
dimension, it is difficult to
measure its relationship to
the scale of a building.
6.3.2. Site Development and Characteristics
6.3.2.1. Observations
a. The organization pattern
established in each
Historic District guides the
development and proposed
alteration of each site.
b. Some houses face the
street with a logical, visible
entrance and a sidewalk
that leads from the street
to this entrance. Others
have gravel driveways that
lead from the street to this
entrance. These sidewalks
and gravel driveways help
to establish a rhythm.
c. There is an established
distance from the street
to the house, which is
called a setback. This
setback reinforces the
importance of the entrance
and the orientation of the
building. Building beyond
this setback would change
the visual continuity
established.
d. Several driveway
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section approaches in the front
yard lead to garages and
secondary out buildings,
which are located
behind the main house.
Contemporary style houses
have incorporated their
garage or carports into their
house plan, but typically
they do not project beyond
the established front wall
of the house. While the
construction of new garages
and carports is necessary,
their placement and
approach should respect
the original “front line” of the
house. This would place
them behind the existing
setback. Locating them to
the rear of the property is
preferable.
e. Front yards are defined
by the street, sidewalks,
fences, and boundary
walls made of stone. The
walls are low in profile
and do not obscure the
house. Front yard fences
are not common to these
neighborhoods, but there is
evidence of historic fences
and walls.
6.3.2.2. Recommendations
a. Retain the orientation of
the house to the street. To
change the entrance from
the front would alter the
pedestrian approach and
rhythm.
b. Removing and relocating
the sidewalk from the
street to the house would
break the rhythm of the
neighborhood. Broken
sidewalks should be
replaced but the location
should remain. The
material should match
the original or should be
compatible with the house
and the surrounding
neighborhood. Materials
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such as stone, concrete

section
or brick pavers, and
decomposed granite are
appropriate replacement
materials and are not as
harsh as large expanses of
concrete. Each house style
should be considered when
selecting on alternative
material.
c. Driveway locations should
not be altered if it affects
the rhythm of the street.
Materials that might be used
for a driveway are gravel,
pea gravel with a brick or
metal edge band, pavers,
concrete strips or “ribbons”
and asphalt.
d. Front yard circular drives
are not appropriate to the
neighborhood because they
encroach on the setback
and break the rhythm on the
street.
e. The style of the house and
the surroundings should be
evaluated when considering
any type of front yard fence.
f. Avoid using chain link
fencing at the front of any
property.
g. Review the reason for
wanting to install a front
yard fence. Did one exist
historically? Houses
constructed in the 1880s
had front yard fences to
keep livestock from roaming
into the yard. Houses built
in the 1920s had fences
in the front yard, which
reflected a “progressive”
movement when fencing
laws reduced the chance for
roaming livestock.
h. In most applications, the
fence should be installed
at or behind the building
setback line.

6.3.3. Rhythm and Visual Continuity

6.3.3.1. Observations
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 6
section a. A rhythm is created by the
spacing between houses,
and the setback of house
from the street as well as
the location of sidewalks,
walkways, and parkways.
This cohesiveness is
reinforced by a common
scale and building height.
6.3.3.2. Recommendations
a. The density of the
neighborhoods must be
preserved to avoid changing
the character and the
streetscape of the area.
b. If replacement housing, or
“infill”, is necessary due
to natural disaster or the
re-platting of land, avoid
reducing the lot size or
changing the rhythm of the
street. Consider square
footage and scale of the
surrounding houses to
retain the cohesiveness
of the historic district.
Building heights should
be compatible with
surrounding houses which
may necessitate elevating
floor levels above grade
and constructing with higher
than 8’-0” ceilings. The
building setback line of
surrounding houses must
be followed and garages
must be set back from the
face of the house.
c. Avoid additions that detract
from the size of the original
house and that come
forward of the original
building line.

6.3.4. Building Heights and Orientation

6.3.4.1. Observations
a. The majority of the houses
within the historic district are
one-story although some
are two-story. The houses
are generally rectangular in
shape and are deep from
front to back, but there are
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several square shaped

section
houses. Most entrances of
the houses face the street.
b. However, there are several
historic and non-historic
houses, that are positioned
parallel to the street and are
deep from right to left.
6.3.4.2. Recommendations
a. Retain the prominent
entrance or face to the
street.
b. If new construction occurs,
orient the front of the house
to the street.
c. Maintain wide side yard
setbacks even if they do
not conform to current
standards.
d. Modifications to the original
roof form must be in
keeping with the style of the
house and shall avoid the
“pop-up” appearance.

6.3.5. Color
6.3.5.1. Observations
a. The existing color palette
of the historic residential
area mainly consist of light
or neutral colors, including
white, tan, and cream for
the body; and the trim
varies from neutrals to
colors depending on the
house. Some trim colors
include blue, brown, green,
red, white, tan, and yellow.
b. Some houses are painted
in pale colors like blue,
green, and yellow. The trim
on these houses is either a
different color, or a neutral
tone.
6.3.5.2. Recommendations
a. Keep the neighborhood
and surrounding houses
in mind when selecting a
new exterior paint color. A
successful color scheme
can tie a building together
and create harmony
in the facade and the
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section neighborhood. Avoid
severely contrasting colors
in body and trim or details.
b. The style and period
of a house impacts the
appropriate color schemes.
To determine the historic
paint color, scrape small
areas of existing paint to
reveal the original color
of the house, or have a
chemical analysis of the
paint conducted by an
expert. Paint manufactures
such as Sherwin Williams,
Pratt and Lambert, and
Benjamin Moore carry
historically appropriate
colors for each time period.
c. Research colors available
at the time your house was
built. This information can
be obtained from paint
manufacturers such as
Sherwin Williams, Pratt
and Lambert, or Benjamin
Moore.
d. Seek help when selecting
paint colors for your
house. Local paint stores
can provide assistance
in selecting or matching
paint colors as well as
recommending historic paint
colors. City staff can also
provide assistance in paint
selection.
e. Dark colors tend to look
darker near large trees or
where shadows are created.
Dark colors also tend to
fade or “chalk” or get white
powder on the surface.
This residue is caused by
the gradual disintegration
of the resin in the paint
film due to the amount
of ultraviolet light on the
paint’s surface.
f. The trees and humidity of
Blanco add to the possibility
of mildew on paint. It is
recommended that a mildew
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inhibitor be added to the

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paint.
g. Avoid high gloss paints,
as they are not historically
appropriate. A “satin”
finish paint can provide the
appearance of historic paint
while providing the easily
washed surface of a gloss
finish.
h. The preparation of the
surface is important when
painting. The surface
should be scrapped and
sanded to remove any loose
paint, but it is not necessary
to remove all paint down
to the bare wood. Make
sure the wood is dry before
applying a good primer
and two topcoats of paint.
Use a brush for the best
coverage instead of a
sprayer.

6.3.6. Modern Conveniences, Amenities, and

Public Safety
6.3.6.1. Observations
a. Some modern amenities
have been added to historic
residences that are visible
from the street and detract
from the character of the
neighborhood. Such
additions include window air
conditioning units, antennas
and satellite dishes. Other
common inappropriate
alterations include railings,
lighting, and non-functional
shutters.
b. In some cases, historic
fabric has been removed
and replaced with
incompatible materials.
Examples include the
replacement of window
screens with aluminum
screens and replacement
of decorative screen doors
with storm windows.
c. Access ramps have been
added to some houses to
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section allow a no-step entrance.
6.3.6.2. Recommendations
a. Weigh the historic
integrity of the house and
neighborhood with the
value of the improvement
and the quality of life.
Ask yourself, “Can this
improvement be installed
and removed without
causing irreparable
physical and aesthetic
damage to the house or
neighborhood?”
b. Locate modern amenities
in the least visible place
from the prominent face of
the house, which include
the rear and side facades.
Avoid the installation
of air conditioning and
electrical equipment on
the prominent face of
the house, only install
equipment in such a way
that it does not damage
the historic building fabric.
Screen equipment when
possible with appropriate
planting material.
c. Retain window and door
screens that are a detailed
features of the period
of the house, as in the
case of Craftsman style
houses. Avoid concealing
the detailing of historic
front doors and entrances
with contemporary storm
doors. When damaged
beyond repair, wood
window screens and
doors, designed for the
style of the house, can be
purchased or custom made
at most lumber yards.
d. Carefully consider the
potential location of access
ramps for temporary or
long term disability, and the
impact of the ramp on the
house and neighborhood.
e. Chimneys are an important
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architectural feature and

section
the removal or alteration
of existing chimneys alters
the historical integrity
of the house and is not
recommended.
f. Decks and patios can be
compatible with historic
houses if thought is given
to location, proportion, and
materials.
g. New dormers may allow for
additional use of the attic,
but need to be designed
to match the original style
of the house and not
overpower it.
h. Flags and banners are
considered a removable
amenity, but care must be
used when mounting to
not damage the historic
materials of the house.
i. Light fixtures located
on the building exterior,
porches, pathways and
paved areas need to be
appropriate in design,
scale, and character of the
house. There are many
available fixtures in various
architectural styles. A
Victorian light fixture is
appropriate with a Victorian
house but not appropriate
with a Ranch or Craftsman
style house.
j. Mailboxes and mail slots
should be simple and as
unobtrusive as possible.
Mailboxes can be obtained
in styles compatible in
styles compatible with the
time period of the house.
k. Operable shutters may
be installed if they are in
keeping with the style of
the house and period of
construction. Shutters
need to be correctly
proportioned to the width
and height of the window
and be installed with
Design Standards for the City of Blanco, Texas X
 6
section hinges rather than nailed to
the wall.
l. Skylights can add light
to interior spaces and
make attics spaces
more useable. If flat in
profile and positioned
away from public view,
skylights can be installed
in older houses. Bubble-
dome skylights are not
appropriate for buildings
within Historic Districts.
m. Site garages away from
the primary view and set
them behind the front wall
of the house. Install single
doors instead of double-
width doors. Whether
constructed as an addition
to the original house and
historic structures, or as
an accessory or secondary
building, the garage design
should be compatible with
the historic residence.
n. As you formulate your
ideas to modify and
improve your home,
questions will arise. There
are many sources available
for advice and assistance,
including a neighbor who
has completed a similar
project appropriately,
the Texas Historical
Commission, City Staff,
and the National Trust
for Historic Preservation.
Helpful publications to
begin your project include
The Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards for
the Treatment of Historic
Properties, National Park
Service’s Preservation
Briefs, Traditional Building
Magazine, The Old House
Journal and Catalog,
and Renovator’s Supply
Catalog.

6.3.7. References
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6.3.7.1. Contents

section
a. Texas Historical
Commission: Architectural
Department
512.463.6094
Http://www.thc.state.tx./
contactus/cotdefault.shtml
City of Blanco:
###.###.####
###
b. National Trust for Historic
Preservation
http://www.
preservationnation.org/
6.3.7.2. Links
a. The Secretary of the
Interior’s Standards for
the Treatment of Historic
Properties:
www.nps.gov/history/hps/
tps/standguide.htm
b. National Parks Service
Preservation Briefs:
www.nps.gov/history/hps/
tps/briefs/presbhom.htm
c. Traditional Building
Magazine:
www.traditonal-building.com
d. The Old House Journal and
Catalog:
www.oldhousejournal.com
e. Renovator’s Supply
Catalog:
www.rensup.com

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